INS Plans to Propose Fee of $100 for 2nd-Stage Amnesty Applicants
The government plans to propose a fee of about $100 for second-stage amnesty applicants--those aliens seeking permanent residency after receiving temporary status in this country--according to a high-level official at the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
“I hope it will be under $100,” said Raymond Penn, assistant commissioner for legalization. “I think we can make that cut. What we’re shooting for is something more or less a token fee.”
Penn said the exact fee will depend on how much money the INS spends in completing the first stage of the program, which allowed illegal immigrants to seek temporary legal residency if they had lived in the country since Jan. 1, 1982. The program operates in two stages before allowing aliens to become citizens. Applicants for the first stage, temporary residency, were charged $185 per individual or $420 for families. That application period ended on May 4.
The INS will begin accepting applications for the second stage, permanent residency, in November.
“The (individual) fee will be nowhere near $185,” said Penn, adding that the family fee will be cut sharply as well.
The exact fee will be included in the INS proposals for the second-stage regulations, which are expected to be ready in July.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
